KC-46, Next Generation Aerial Refueling Aircraft

Abstract

Replacement of the legacy KC-135 fleet will take place in three stages, known as the KC-X (now the KC-46), KC-Y, and the KC-Z. The initial KC-46 increment will replace roughly a third of the current capability with the purchase of 179 aircraft. The Air Force completed an Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) in Apr 2006 to determine the most appropriate strategy to recapitalize the aging fleet of KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft. Based on this analysis, the Air Force concluded that a strategy of full and open competition to select a commercial derivative replacement tanker aircraft would result in a best value tanker contract. To initiate the first phase of the KC-135 replacement, the KC-46 program released a final Request for Proposal (RFP) on 24 Feb 2010, and entered source selection on 9 Jul 2010. The KC-46 program held a Milestone B Defense Acquisition Board (DAB) on 23 Feb 2011, received approval to enter EMD from OSD AT&L on 24 Feb 2011, and awarded the KC-46 EMD contract to Boeing on 24 Feb 2011 to develop and procure 179 KC-46 aircraft. The KC-46 will provide fuel to joint and coalition receivers via a boom or drogue system on every mission and will also augment the airlift fleet with cargo, passenger and aeromedical evacuation capabilities. The KC-46 will be able to operate in day/night and adverse weather conditions to enable deployment, employment, sustainment and redeployment of U.S. joint, allied, and coalition forces. The KC-46 will have communication, navigation and surveillance equipment for world-wide operations; will have the capability to perform missions in chemical and biological environments; will have the capability to operate in low-to-medium threat areas and near-high threat areas with self-defense/protection (both active and passive) capabilities; and will have necessary battle space awareness to mitigate survivability threats. The KC-46 development effort will also procure the necessary ground and flight test assets to support development/operational test. The program plans to procure four RDT&E aircraft for integration and demonstration of capability that will ultimately be operationally fielded after a successful operational test phase. In addition, both aircrew and maintenance Training System Requirement Analyses (TSRA) are being conducted to determine training requirements. Aircrew and maintenance training systems will be developed and procured via a future trainer-specific source selection, using KC-46 funding. A business case analysis will also be conducted to determine if the engines for the production aircraft will be government furnished or contractor furnished. Initial training and sustainment efforts will be provided via Interim Contractor Support (ICS). KC-46 funding will also support various studies and analyses including the five-nation Future Technology for Aerial Refueling (FTAR) project, and KC-Y/KC-Z planning activities. This program is in Budget Activity 05, System Development and Demonstration (SDD) because it has passed Milestone B and is conducting engineering and manufacturing development tasks aimed at meeting validated requirements prior to full-rate production.

Document Details

• Document Type: R2 Budgetary Justification
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2013
• Source ID: 0605221F_5_3600_PB_2013
• Change Summary Explanation: The FY 2010 Defense Appropriations Bill directed the following: (1) reduced the FY 2010 President’s Budget request by $132.9M in RDT&E, AF, (2) moved $291.715M of FY2010 RDT&E, AF into the Tanker Replacement Transfer Fund (TRTF), and (3) left $15.0M in RDT&E, AF to support program office and source selection activities. On 6 Jan 2011, $291.615M from TRTF was moved into FY 2010 RDT&E, AF per SECAF Memo to Congress, dated 2 Nov 2010. These funds have been used to fund the KC-46 EMD effort and for program support activities. The FY 2011 Defense Appropriations Bill directed the following: (1) reduced the FY 2011 PB request by $325M in RDT&E, AF, (2) moved $538.875M of FY2011 RDT&E, AF into the TRTF, and (3) left nothing in RDT&E, AF. On 15 Jun 2011, $538.875M from TRTF was moved into FY 2011 RDT&E, AF per SECAF Memo to Congress, dated 5 May 2011. These funds are being used to fund the KC-46 EMD effort and for program support activities. The FY 2012 PB was submitted prior to the KC-46 Engineering Manufacturing and Development (EMD) contract award on 24 Feb 2011. In accordance with the KC-46 Acquisition Decision Memorandum dated 24 Feb 2011, the KC-46 budget in FY 2013 PB has been adjusted to reflect the Service Cost Position and Boeing’s development strategy. FY 2011 funding table note: Adjustments (Cong Directed Transfers -$325M) are reflected in Other Adjustments.
• Service Agency Name: Air Force

Entities

Organizations

• United States Air Force

Tags

Communities of Interest

• Air Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Acquisition
• Air Force
• Aircrafts
• Contractors
• Contracts
• Costs
• Deployment
• Engineering
• Governments
• Logistics
• Maintenance
• Procurement
• Refueling
• Refueling In Flight
• Tanker Aircraft
• Test And Evaluation
• Training

Readers

• Aerospace Engineering
• Aerospace logistics and air mobility.

Technology Areas

• Space